Combination mute



G. B. HUMES.

COMBINATION MUTE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1919.

' Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

e a a e 1 MM STATES UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

COMBINATION MUTE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

Application filed September 18, 1919. Serial No. 324,934.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUY B. HUMEs, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Mutes,of which the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in a combinationmute, and has for its object the provision of a mute which may also beused to produce a jazz effect with a brass musical instrument.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter de-' scribed and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my invention with a part removed.

Fig 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on substantially line 2-2 ofFig. l.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on substantially line ofFig. 2.

The approved form of construction comprises a frusto-conical tubularmember 4:, the convergent end 5 of which is open. Adjacent the enlargedor divergent end, the wall is inclined so as to converge, as at 6.Secured to th outer or enlarged end of the member 1 and positionedwithin the member 4, is a frusto-conical shaped tubular member her 7,both ends of which are open. Mounted adjacent the smaller end 8 of themember 7 and within the same, are disks 10 and 10, each having anorifice 9 extending therethrough, said orifice 9 being of a smallerdiameter than the orifice which forms the opening at the lower end 8 ofthe member 7. Engaged between the members 10 and 10 is a vibrator 11,the members 10, 10 and 11 being secured together in their assembledposition by glue or other suitable means. The members 10 and 10 may beconstructed of cork, card board or other suitable material, and themember 11 is formed from oiled paper, fish skin or any other membranousmaterial which will alford vibrating element. The members 10 and 10 maybe tightly wedged in the member I by being pressed therein, or glue maybe used on the sides of these members in order to retain the same inoperative position.

A member 12 is slidably mounted upon the member 7 by means of a bolt 13inserted through a slot 141 which is formed in the member 12. The bolt13 is securely fastened to the member 7, and a washer 15 is positionedbetween the bolt head and the member 12. Positioned upon the member 7 ad-acent the upper edge thereof, by suitable fastening means, is asuitable guide 16 111 which the member 12 is adapted to slide. The lowerend of the member 12 has an angularly turned portion 17, secured uponthe upper surface of which is a closure 18 which is circular inform andof a larger diameter than the end 8 of the member 7, so as to form aclosure for the orifice or opening at the lower end of the member 7. Themember 18 is constructed of some pliable material, such as soft rubberor a cushion of cotton having a chamois skin covering on it. The member12, at its upper end, has an outwardly turned portion 19 which affords agrasping means for the purpose of sliding the member 12 relatively tothe member 7. Provided upon the member 4, adjacent the lower endthereof, are projections 20 which are formed of cork, rubber or othersuitable material, by which the member 4 is retained within the bell ofa brass musical instrument upon its being inserted therein.

The device is intended to be used in connection with brass musicalinstruments, such as cornets, tromhones and the like. The device isinserted into the bell of the musical instrument and may be used eitheras a simple mute or for the purpose of giving a jazz effect to themusic. When used as a simple mute, the member 18 is raised intooperative position, so as to close the opening at the lower end of themember '7, as shown in F 2. When the device is used while in thisposition, a very efficient mute is provided. Upon pressing the member 19downwardly relatively to the member 7, the closure 18 is removed fromthe opening at the end of the member 7 and the device, when used in thisposition, will produce a. jazz effect, that is, the notes will be brokenup or so intermingled as to produce adis cordant or gurgling sound inthe various tones. hen so used, it is, of course apparent that themember 11 is in constant vibration.

Thus it is apparent that a mute is provided which may be quickly andeasily changed to produce the effect above noted.

Vhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into efiect, this is capable ofvariation and modification Without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of the construction set forth, but desire to avail myself ofsuch variations and modifications as come Within the scope of theappended claims.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. A device of the class described comprising, a tubular memberinsertable in the bell of a horn musical instrument; an additionaltubular member secured Within one end of said member; and a vibratorsecured within and closing said additional member, substantially asdescribed.

2. Adevice of the class described comprising, a tubular memberinsertable in the bell of a horn musical instrument; an additionaltubular member, having an orifice therein, secured Within said member;and means, extending beyond the outer tubular member for closing saidorifice, substantially as, described.

3. A device of the class described comprising, a tubular memberinsertable in the bell of a horn musical instrument; an additionaltubular member, having an orifice therein, secured Within said member; avibrator mounted within said inner tubular member closing said orifice;and additional ineans for closing said orifice, substantially asdescribed.

A device ot the class described comprising, a tubular member insertablein the bell of a horn musical instrument; an additional tubular member,having an orifice therein. mounted within said member; a vibratorsecured over said orifice; means for closing said orifice; and means formoving said means to closing or operative position, substantially asdescribed.

A device of the class described comprising, a tubular member insertablein the bell 01 a horn musical instrument; an additional tubular memberhaving an orifice therein, secured Within said member; a vibratorsecured over said orifice; and means slidably mounted upon saidadditional tubular member for closing said orifice, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GUY B. HUMES.

\Vitnesses JosHUA Po'rrs, LAURA J. ERIoKsoN.

